By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The revival of the Negros Island Region (NIR) may be implemented sooner after Bacolod City Mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez revealed that incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. may issue an executive order (EO) reviving the region.
According to Benitez, the EO could be issued and NIR could begin operating even before a law could be passed.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental’s provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said an EO creating the NIR has been done before, and the blueprint for it is already there and the revival could be made with the same formula.
The revival of the Negros Island Region (NIR) may be implemented sooner after Bacolod City Mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez revealed that incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. may issue an executive order (EO) reviving the region.
According to Benitez, the EO could be issued and NIR could begin operating even before a law could be passed.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental’s provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said an EO creating the NIR has been done before, and the blueprint for it is already there and the revival could be made with the same formula.
Diaz said it will not take much time as it has already been done, and in terms of budget, a lot needs to be passed.
“If there is an EO in place it should be included in the General Appropriations Act of 2023,” he said.
He also said that since the NIR has been done before its “social acceptability is beyond question.”
“There is a clamor that we want a regional office here on the island in order to facilitate the needs of our people, especially those that deal with national government agencies. We will have more access to them” the provincial administrator pointed out.
Diaz added that the planning and implementing will be more focused in Negros.
Twelve congressmen from Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor will file a joint bill seeking for the reestablishment of the NIR on the first day of the 19th Congress on Friday, July 1.
The NIR was first established by former President Noynoy Aquino on May 29, 2015 through an EO, but it was dissolved in October of 2017 by the now outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, pointing out that establishing a region needed a law, not an EO. Duterte also said there was no money to fund the new region.
Under the proposal, it was agreed that all offices of major government agencies will be placed in Bacolod City, while their extension offices will be in Dumaguete City.
The main offices that offer social welfare services will be in Dumaguete City with their extension offices in Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ
Diaz said it will not take much time as it has already been done, and in terms of budget, a lot needs to be passed.
“If there is an EO in place it should be included in the General Appropriations Act of 2023,” he said.
He also said that since the NIR has been done before its “social acceptability is beyond question.”
“There is a clamor that we want a regional office here on the island in order to facilitate the needs of our people, especially those that deal with national government agencies. We will have more access to them” the provincial administrator pointed out.
Diaz added that the planning and implementing will be more focused in Negros.
Twelve congressmen from Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor will file a joint bill seeking for the reestablishment of the NIR on the first day of the 19th Congress on Friday, July 1.
The NIR was first established by former President Noynoy Aquino on May 29, 2015 through an EO, but it was dissolved in October of 2017 by the now outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, pointing out that establishing a region needed a law, not an EO. Duterte also said there was no money to fund the new region.
Under the proposal, it was agreed that all offices of major government agencies will be placed in Bacolod City, while their extension offices will be in Dumaguete City.
The main offices that offer social welfare services will be in Dumaguete City with their extension offices in Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ